Topic: cb450-adding another front brake

[lokai]

i am the proud owner of a cb 450 that runs pretty god damn well and must say i am very happy -  it has had some cafe racer mods done to it but they are just visual things like handle bars, seat and this type of thing...its my second ride and is so much more laid back than the rz350 yamaha bike i learned to ride 2 years ago

anyway the purpose of this post is to find info on the right way to add another front brake to my cb450, i searched the website-forgive me if its here somewhere-and despite this sites vast amount of info i am left wondering if i can find what i need here on a sohc forum, (thing is i was sent here by someone from another forum)

what i would like to know inparticular is...

1  what parts do i need to farm from other bikes?

2   is there a document somewhere i can download to make my life easier?

3  also i would like to use stainless braided hoses but need a fitting, (my manual isnt helping me much atm) for where the metal tube comes off of the brake housing        and connects to the rubber hose--this fitting would allow me run a cable from the brake to the junction, running a shorter one from the master cylinder to the junction doesnt look to be hard

i am sure this must be feasible as honda bikes from this era shared similar parts and i can see the accomodations for another brake caliper on the other fork...not sure if the wheel readily accepts another rotor but i have no fear in forcing it to have 2 brakes!

thanks in advance
lokai

[bryanj]

The 450 shares the fork sliders with the early 750 and the "mirror image" braket to fit a caliper to the other leg was a magnesium casting from the race prep boys and has been long discontinued/lost so is now basically unobtaiable. You can fit the alloy sliders from a 550 of 73-76 vintage then fit another disc. caliper bracket and caliper etc. but you would need 500/550 discs as they are a different diameter. You would also need a Goldwing master cylinder or similar to push enough fluid for the two calipers.

[lokai]

wow, thanks bryanj - ill be lookin into this asap..once im clear on it ill need to find the parts and that could be abit but i live in vancouver so who knows, could happen sooner if i am lucky

lokai

[lokai]

ok, i looked at my parts catalogue and tried to find 550 parts id online but wasnt easy..
..just want to clarify that you are saying to grab 550 sliders, discs, calipers and caliper brkts all from a 550 and then use them in lieu of my 450 sliders and existing 450 brake ?
so i have 550 frontend sliders and dual brakes on my bike and still a 450 wheel?

interestingly enough i see these parts for sale in the parts section here so im ready to buy em

lokai

[bryanj]

You need the complete front end from a 550 PLUS an extra disc with caliper and mounting bracket AND a Goldwing master cylinder. Then you can play mix n match. If you email me direct i will send you a word document on how to for a 550

[crazypj]

If it already has the mounting why dont you just get another brake caliper, etc and reverse the fitting so it point backwards insted of forwards?
If the disc is larger dia. (early 750) you can get another disc on there as well. only real' problem' is speedo drive. Can you get a picture of what you have at present?
PJ

[Super Sport 550]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but didn't the CB450 have a dual leading shoe drum brake? Or was that just the CL450?

its my second ride and is so much more laid back than the rz350 yamaha bike i learned to ride 2 years ago

I would guess so! Those were not "laid back" by any stretch of the imagination!

[Bodi]

The first 450 "black bomber" in 1965 had a double leading shoe front brake and that lasted until 1970, when the CB450 was the first USA model with a front disc brake. The '69 model was a bit odd, the European ones had the retro look with chrome and rubber tank panels while the N.A. ones had the stripy painted tank and looked pretty much like a 70 except for the brake.